Urban Update 29 August 2025

News and Research

Politics, Philosophy, Economics, History

Restoring Council Housing After Right To Buy >>>>
This paper, by Common Wealth, a UK & US think tank,  highlights the problems caused by the current lack of council housing resulting from Right to Buy, and how to address it.
Problems include:

• Unaffordability  
  • Decline in council housing has contributed to the growth of the private rented sector where tenants must pay in England on average more than twice as much per week.
• Insecurity
  • Reduced capacity to house those at risk of homelessness has led to an increased reliance on temporary accommodation often lacking basic facilities and where overcrowding is common.  The cost to councils has therefore almost doubled in the past five years, with £2.3 billion spent in 2023-4.
• Inaccessibility
  • 1.29 million households are currently on waiting list for a social home. This is projected to rise to 2 million within a decade.
• Inequality
  • Transfer of public wealth to private individuals: the estimated market value of Right to Buy discounts between 1980 and 2022/23 stands at approximately £194 billion.

Despite the efforts of various governments to make up the decline through new construction, the article emphasises that Right to Buy sales have almost without fail outstripped new completion of council housing since 1980/1.

Apart from the introduction of a duty to rebuild housing stock and the reform of Right to Buy, the article makes further recommendations:

• “Right to Buy Back”
  • Extend London’s “Right to Buy Back” scheme, where properties are repurchased for use by the public sector, to a national level. The New Economic Foundation’s analysis suggests that this scheme is projected to pay for itself within 25 years, with the implication that an equivalent national programme could be cost-neutral in the long-term.
• “Right of first refusal”
  • Adopt Barcelona’s scheme whereby the city has the power to be the preferred buyer of a home when the owner opts to sell.
• Expand compulsory purchase powers over substandard properties in the private rental sector.

 
New Zealand's Housing Market down by 13 percent since 2022 peak – might other countries follow? >>>>
This article by the Guardian reflects on the factors behind the fall:

• Increase in interest rates from historic lows of 2% to as high as 7-8%,
• High unemployment
• increase in New Zealanders moving overseas
• government policies aimed at increasing housing supply are beginning to take effect.

Around 40% of the average household income goes towards mortgage payments.
 
Chinese property giant Evergrande delisted after spectacular fall >>>>
 
Birmingham City Council has highest debt among UK local authorities >>>>
However its also one of the largest councils. Birmingham is not the most indebted council. Debt per head is £2,875.  

History

Urban civilization rose on the back of tides in Southern Mesopotamia (now Southern Iraq) >>>>
It is always worth examining prototypical civilisations as they provide a window to the civilisations in which we live today.  If civilisation is the right word to use.   The article contends that tides and the function of the delta of the Euphrates allowed great agricultural productivity; environmental change (the movement of the delta) then spurred social change, and the growth of inequality in the society.

Natural Environment 

More than 2,000 waste pipes misconnected in London leading to pollution of watercourses >>>>
 
Light pollution causes urban birds to stay awake longer each day, study finds >>>>
 
Why weather forecasters often appear to get it wrong BBC
Useful insights into the difficulties.
 
Modelling Nature Connectedness Within Environmental Systems: Human-Nature Relationships from 1800 to 2020 and Beyond - Earth
 
If a swift could fight for their existence with words: nonhuman interests and politics - npj Urban Sustainability
This article examines arguments made in a debate on the implementation of swift bricks to explore multispecies perspectives and how far these are addressed by policymakers and politicians.
It notes that while some campaigners spoke as swifts’ representatives, and some MPs were sympathetic with the swifts’ interests, the government’s response represented “technocratic rationality”, with swift bricks a part of ‘green infrastructure’ and ‘biodiversity net gain’.

The paper underlines the distance between the world of formal politics and a nonhuman perspective involving the notion of multispecies justice.

Movement

Re-examining fare-free public transport for greater inclusivity - Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Should public transport be free at point of use and paid for by other means (such as taxation)?  This is a review of 146 studies…the findings include:

• Social Equity and Non-Dominant Groups: FFPT is often seen as a tool for social justice, as it can significantly benefit low-income individuals, people with fixed incomes, and other non-dominant groups by improving their mobility and access to opportunities.
• Ridership and Modal Shift: FFPT programs have been shown to significantly increase public transport ridership. However, the evidence is uncertain regarding a modal shift from private automobiles to public transport. This suggests that simply making transit free is not always enough to encourage drivers to switch, and other policies are needed.
• Economic Impacts: The elimination of fares can lead to financial instability for public transport operators. This has led to discussions about alternative funding models, such as private partnerships or tax-based systems, to support the service.

.
Actual cycling safety vs perceived cycling safety :  Bridging the gap: a scoping review exploring the relationship between objective and subjective cycling safety - Transport Reviews
This study looks at 19 different studies on the subject, and points out a number of difficulties, such as when people feel safe, they sometimes behave in a less careful way.   People often choose to cycle in environments they already perceive as safe, skewing the data.
 
The determinants of walking habit strength in urban China: A mixed-method study - Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
This study was conducted in Shenzhen, China, used a mixed-methods approach to determine what influences a person's walking habits. The findings highlight the importance of both physical and psychological factors, and points to the need to use a holistic approach if the goal is to encourage walking and active travel.  Factors include:

• Environmental: A supportive environment, including the accessibility of destinations and well-maintained walking paths, is crucial for developing strong walking habits, followed by the street network and aesthetics.
• Psychosocial: People's attitudes toward walking and their emotional connection  to their neighbourhood (neighbourhood attachment) also significantly impact their likelihood of walking regularly.
• Synergy between environmental and psychosocial : The research found a dynamic interplay between these two sets of factors. A well-designed environment can positively reinforce a person's motivation and neighbourhood attachment, making them more likely to choose to walk.

The Invisible Backbone: How Urban Logistics Powers UK Cities Behind the Scenes >>>>
According to this article, instead of relying solely on large, out-of-town warehouses, the system is increasingly using smaller, more efficient "micro-hubs" located within cities. These hubs facilitate faster, last-mile delivery and help reduce congestion and emissions. By utilizing modular systems for handling and storage, these facilities power modern urban life by ensuring goods reach hospitals, restaurants, and homes with speed and precision.
 

Energy and Climate Change

Concern over loss of Antarctic Sea Ice and slow-down of Antarctic Meridional Current  >>>>
 
What Do Google’s AI Answers Cost the Environment? >>>>
Energy and water use by AI is a theme much in the media at the moment – verging on a moral panic. It is classic example of “framing”- in this instance, focusing on the energy used by the AI computers and not on the energy cost of running the internet or the energy used in running a smartphone or computer that are necessary to make use of the AI service, or the cost of heating or cooling the environment in which the individual is occupying, the cost of transport if they happen to have travelled to work…. and so on.  If AI enables people to complete their tasks much more quickly, there is the opportunity for saving energy.   But equally there are paradoxical effects - see the Khazzoom Brooks postulate that proposes that energy efficiency improvements can actually increase energy consumption. 
 
Plugging in for cities: the impact of power infrastructure on urban agglomeration - Humanities and Social Sciences Communications
This paper by Chinese researchers contends that large thermal power stations dampen urban sprawl attributing this to a combination of factors, including the power plant's influence on electricity supply, economic development, and pollution.
 

Humans, Health, Society

Study suggests that a language’s vocabulary reflects the lives of its speakers >>>>
According to this study, the words we use are more than just communication tools. They act as "cultural fingerprints," revealing a community's environment, values, and priorities.

This paper investigates the theory suggests that languages with a high number of words for a specific concept, such as dozens of terms for snow, are indicative of that concept's importance within a culture.  Language reveals a community's environment, values, and priorities.

The article argues that this connection between language and culture, once considered a linguistic "hoax," is a fundamental key to understanding how our language is shaped.  New research has validated this theory, overturning decades of scepticism among linguists and highlighting the deep link between our vocabulary and our lived experience.
Full paper >>>>

The question then is to consider the words used in the built environment sector, urban design, planning, urbanism etc and what conclusions may be drawn.  It is notable that there has been a proliferation of urbanism compound nouns – new, temporary, landscape-urbanism etc.  A revised version of the dictionary of urbanism is in preparation.
 
How Places Form People: The Moral Pedagogy of Urban Design >>>>
Moral Pedagogy = teaching and guiding someone to develop a sense of right and wrong.
Plain talking = speaking in a direct, simple, and honest way, without using complex language, jargon, or pretence.
 
A cross-cultural study to identify social behaviours of pedestrians in urban public spaces: evidence from Iran, Spain, Italy, and Australia - Scientific Reports
This study examines how the layout and features of four urban squares, focusing particularly on visual accessibility, impact pedestrian behaviours.

It finds that accessibility does not automatically lead to social vibrancy, and instead highlight the role played by cultural practices, provision of amenities, and the age and gender of pedestrians.
For example, the study noted the way Iran’s Naghsh-E Jahan square’s segmented layout allowed for more localised and private social gatherings, while the striking appearance of Bastione di Saint Remy were hampered by the lack of shaded seating and functional diversity.   Open-configured squares, such as at the example in Brisbane, support broader movement and visual connectivity.
 
Small scale analysis of urban air quality and public health in London, UK, provides insights for targeted interventions - Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science
This paper points out that to obtain an understanding between the public health and air pollution, fine grained data and analysis is needed, as air pollution can be very locally concentrated.
 
The Cognitive Cost of AI: How AI Anxiety and Attitudes Influence Decision Fatigue in Daily Technology Use - Annals of Neurosciences
Through evidence obtained from a questionnaire, this study seeks to build on previous research on the potential harmful impacts of technology and AI use on human psychology and cognition.
These include:

• Attention Overload impairing cognitive functionality and overall well-being
• ‘Digital dementia’ resulting from the ready access to information meaning weaker memory consolidation, decreased attention spans, and diminished proficiency in decision making and verbal communication
• Decision Fatigue through information overload

The results of the study itself suggest tentatively that, while it enhances productivity and confidence in tasks in the short term, long-term exposure to and repeated interactions with AI may hamper attention, diminish self-assurance, and foster information overload.
 
Transit fares and space-time accessibility: measuring inequalities in park accessibility for São Paulo favela residents using mobile phone and smart card data - Journal of Transport Geography
Around 75 percent of the favela residents have restricted access to parks owing to inability to afford transit costs and lack of time.
 

Built Environment 

MHCLG issues update on the use of the New Homes Accelerator  >>>>
The scheme includes providing local areas with additional planning capacity and removing regulatory hurdles, plus close engagement with arms-length bodies and other government departments,
Sites set to benefit from the latest accelerator support:

• Wisley Airfield in Guildford.
• Hampden Fields in Aylesbury.
• Comeytrowe Garden Community, also known as Orchard Grove, in Somerset.
• North Leigh Park in Wigan.
• Billet Road in Redbridge, London.
• High Road West in Haringey, London.

In some ways, rural Britain is changing faster than its cities - The Economist article >>>>
Rural Britain, particularly in the south, is undergoing significant change despite its "timeless" image. The primary driver is a rapid increase in home-building, spurred by domestic migration from other parts of the country. This is making rural areas, which are typically older and less diverse, younger and more populated.
This article identifies changes including

• Rapid Housing Development: Districts like Mid Suffolk are experiencing a home-building boom, with more new homes being built than in some major cities. This is driven by cheaper land, less restrictive planning rules compared to urban "green belts," and government pressure to meet housing targets.
• New residents changing the character of rural communities. The article notes that while some residents are upset by the development, it is a boon for local businesses, as the increased population provides more workers and customers.  However increased population brings pressure on resources, including water supplies.
• Economic Diversification: Agriculture now represents only a a small portion of employment in rural areas, while manufacturing and services are far more important.
• Land Use Conflict: New land uses, such as large solar farms, are becoming more common, which has led to conflicts with both residents and other businesses (like campsites) who are concerned about the visual impact and loss of "tranquil, rural" character. 

The article looks at the current situation, but the trends go back decades, including periods where cities were depopulating, with residents seeking the apparent benefits of the countryside.  
 

Schemes

Wall of six towers up to 29 stories proposed narrow strip of land between M1 and railway line >>>>
 
The UK’s most glorious garages – art deco, rustic, eccentric – in pictures  –  The Guardian
 
UK Design Capital of the Year: How Glasgow is setting new standards for sensitive regeneration Building Design
 
Central Glasgow Could Be Poised for a Revival Bloomberg
 
£3bn HARP (Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme) project to transfer water from the Lake District to the towns of Lancashire and Greater Manchester  >>>>
 
Canterbury City Council begins town strategy work to boost investment and regeneration in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable >>>>
 
Hastings -  British seaside town is in the middle of a cool revival. Here’s why >>>>